Priscilla Queen of the desert- Birmingham Hippodrome
****
Old sparkling favourite Priscilla Queen Of The Desert returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage with a dazzling, brand new 30th anniversary tour production.
An unseasonably cold, drab Tuesday evening in Birmingham , metamorphosed into the warmth and colour of the Australian desert drag and transgendered scene, as Priscilla rolled into town as part of a triumphant nationwide tour.
The premise of the show, that a group of drag queens take a tour bus – the eponymous Priscilla, into the Australian outback to perform a show is inauspicious. The realisation of it is a delight, aided and abetted by the cast alchemy of this stage production . Its origins lie in the 1994 film, by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but the musical did not debut until 2006. Legend has it that show Producer Scott could sing the scores of some three dozen musicals. That knowledge , grasp and touch for musical theatre is much in evidence here.
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Musically, the songs are culled from the club Hi- energy scene of the eighties. Richard Atkinson, musical director, and Ben Harrison, sound design, have done a fine job both with song choice and with the arrangements using a live band, orchestrations by Richard Weeden .
The evening is jam packed with 80’s dance favourites including; Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Finally, and Shake your grove thang- which the audience did enthusiastically until the end.it is also very funny.
The songs are supported by the stunning choreography courtesy of Matt Cole. Vicky Gill produces a visual cornucopia of costuming. Ian Talbot as Director delivers a compelling entity with vim and vigour. The ensemble singing is at once beautiful and stirring featuring delightful harmonies packing punch whilst knowing when to provide space in the music.
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The Drag queen triumvirate of Tick, ( Kevin Clifton), Bernadette (Adele Anderson) and Felicia (Nick Hayes) are perfectly cast combining pathos and joy with equal aplomb. Adversity always gives way to triumph, as the ladies overcome prejudice and preconception by dint of their personalities, music and resilience.
The most compelling performance comes from Adele Anderson as Bernadette, whose ageing female persona is alluring, tragic but life affirming. Understated in a way his two lead performing companions, Tick and Felicia are not, she anchors the show from drifting off into plain Burlesque.
Nick Hayes has the fun, flouncy part as the irritating Felicia, with the camp button always turned to the maximum. It is only when he is fully dressed, and sings “Hot Stuff” that his natural talent emerges, giving the song, which is often routine, an edge and poignancy rarely apparent in the renditions of other singers.
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Special mention should be made of Billie Hardy, who plays Ticks’ wife, Marion . In the face of overwhelming competition for the skirts, heels and stockings in the wardrobe, she still stands out with sharp dance moves and a figure the boys would die for.
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The show carries a torch for all members of society who may feel marginalised for whatever reason, hence its success.
In a troubled world, this life affirming show and message strikes a timely chord with its feel good vibe and irascible humour- runs until Sat 28th and continues on nationwide tour.
Star of the show is boy band heartthrob Duncan James, from Blue, who plays Tick, a drag queen who wants to travel to Alice Springs to see his wife and young son aboard a rickety old coach christened Priscilla. James carries the role with ease, and on “I Say a Little Prayer For You” and “Always on my Mind” sings with power and conviction, a trait demonstrated by the entire, substantial cast.
p4
Production values are glitzy and opulent, with the focus on costuming and the bus. The choreography, originally by the late Ross Coleman, and now in the hands of Andrew Hallsworth is snappy and crisp, with an eye for the panorama of the stage, including the airborne divas!
p5
It is pretty much impossible to watch this show without clapping your hands, tapping your feet, and singing along to the club classic score. The energy injected into this opening night from a large talented cast was impressive, as were the smiles and standing ovation at the end from the audience. The show runs till Saturday 7th May and continues on nationwide tour.
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Garyswordz 